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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. D. SHELDON.

RAILROAD GATE. No. 441,032. Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

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W. 1). SHELDON. RAILROAD GATE.

No. 441,032. Patented Nov. 18-, 1890.

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NITED STATES FF ICE \VILLIAM D. SHELDON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,ASSIGNOR TO- NICIIOLAS SHELDON, OF SAME PLACE.

RAILROAD-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,032, dated November18, 1890.

Application filed September 20, 1889. Serial No. 324,537- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM D. SHELDON, of the city of Providence, inthe county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Railroad-Gates; and I hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

This invention has reference to an improved method for operating thegates at railroadcrossings automatically by the trains; and it consistsin the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of parts bywhich the gate or gates on one or both sides of a railroad are operatedby means of an electric motor connected with two or more circuit-closersby which the electric motor is connected with the main circuitautomatically, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of a railroad provided with a gate. Fig.2 is a plan view showing the oircuit-closer-operating devices, the gateoperating mechanism, and the electric conductor-wires connecting theswitches and the operating mechanism with the main circuit and with thesource of electric energy. Fig. 3 is a view of the apparatus and thecasein which it is contained, the rail and the operating-arm being shownin section. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the case containing thegateoperating mechanism, showing the electric motor and mechanism foroperating the gate by the electric motor. Fig. 5 is a crosssection ofthe gate-standard, showing the connection with the shaft supporting andoperating the gate of the electric motor and mechanism connecting thesaid shaft with the motor to operate the gate.

7 Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Vertically-swinging gates usuallyconnected by underground connections,so that two or more gates are operated simultaneously, are in use onmost railroads. The closing of these gates atthe railroad-crossingsrequires the presence of the gateman at all times, and also requiressuch care and watchfulness on his part as are rarely found in a manwhose labor is but poorly remunerated.

The object of this invention is to secure the prompt closing of the gateon the approach of apassing train and theopening of the sameautomatically by the train.

In the drawings, the number 6 indicates the gate-arms swinging in avertical plane and supported on shafts journaled in the posts 7.

8 is an electric conductor-wire forming one arm of an electric circuitconnected with a dynamo or other source of electric energy,

and 9 is the conductor-wire forming the other arm of the circuit.

10 are the circuit-closers placed near one of the rails of a railroad atsuch a distance on each side from the gate as will cause the gate orates to be closed before the train reaches the gate. \Vhere more thanone track extends between thefopposite gates, each track is providedwith the two circuit-closers 10, and all the closers are connected withan electric motor, by which the gates are operated.

11 is a locomotive shown in the act of passing over one of thecircuit-closer-operating arms. The closer is shown in Fig. 3, in which10 is the case containing the circuit-closer.

12 is the rail and 13 a spring-arm hinged at one end and bearing on aplate at the opposite end. V

1a is a lever provided with the armature 15 and hinged in the standard16, secured to the metal bed-plate 17.

18 is an electro-magnet, and 1.9 insulated spring contact-points.The'short arm of the lever 1e, projecting beyond the standard 16, isconnected by a coiled spring with aprojection of the standard, in whichalso a screw forms an adjustable stop for the lever 14:. Theco11tactsprings 19 and the elect-ro-magnet are connected withconductor-wires, so that on a train passing over the spring-arm 13 thelever 1i enters between the contactsprings 19, closing the circuit, andthe electro-magnet 18 holds the lever in the closed position until thecircuit is broken.

The circuit-closer and the operating-arm are more fully described in anapplication for a patent for railroad signalsfierial No. 324,536, filedby me at the same time as the present application.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the gateshaft 20 is shown provided withthe sprocketwheels 21, over which the chains 22 pass and eXtend overasheave or sheaves in the lower part of the case, connecting thegate-shaft of one gate with the shafts of one or more other gates, so asto operate two or more gates simultaneously. The gate-arm is providedwith the crank 23, and this crank is connected with the crank 24 by theconnecting-link 25. The crank 24 is secured to the shaft 26, journaledin the frame 27, extending from the bed-plate 23, and mounted on theshaft 26 is the worm-gear 29. One face of the wormgear is provided withthe pin 30, and on' the opposite face of the worm-gear the pin 31 isplaced on a line with the pin and the center of the shaft 26. Theworm-gear 29 gears with the worm 32, secured on the shaft 33, whichshaft is supported in bearings formed in standards projecting from thebed-plate 28. The gear-Wheel 34 is secured to the shaft 33 and gearswith the pinion 35 on the shaft of the electromotor 36. electromotor 36is secured to the base 23, and this base is secured to the brackets 38.The spring-arms 39 and 40 are secured to the standard 41 and extend tothe sides of the wormwheel 29,s0 as to come in contact with the pins 3031. The spring-arms 39 and 40 rest in their normal position on thecontact-posts 42 and 43. The contact-post 42is connected by theconductor-wire 44 with the contact-springs 19 of one circuit-closer, andthe contact-post 43 is connected by the conductor-wire 45. with thecontact-springs 19 of the opposite circuitcloser, and the contact-postsare connected through the spring-arms 39 and 40, and the conductor-wire46 with one pole of the electromotor, the other pole being connected bythe conductor-wire 47 with the arm 8 of the main circuit. The arm 9 ofthe circuit is connected with the electro-magnet and the circuit-closerframe by the conductor-wire 48. 49 indicates the dynamo or other sourceof electric energy.

The operation of this system for operating railroad-gatesis as follows:A train approaching a railroad-crossing provided with a gate on passingover the curved arm 13 depresses the center of the arm and brings thelever14 in contact with the spring-contacts, thus closing the circuitbetween the conductor-wire 4S and wire 44, thus connecting the motorwith both arms 8 and 9 of the main circuit and starting the motor,which, through the pinion 35, gear-wheel 34, worm 32, and worm-gear 29,turns the shaft 26, and, through the crank 24, connecting-rod 25, andcrank 23, turns the gate-shaft 20, and with the same the gatearms fromthe horizontal to the vertical position. When the predetermined positionof the gate-arms is reached, the pin 30 raises the spring-arm 39 offfrom the contact-post 42, breaking the circuit and stopping the motor.WVhen, now, the train has passed by the gate and reaches the arm 13beyond the gate, the circuit is closed again; but the connection is madethrough the contact-post The base 37 of the 43 and arm 40. The motor isstarted and continues the rotation of the shaft 26 until the gate islowered, when, on reaching this predetermined position, the pin 31raises the spring-arm 40 oif from the contact-post 43, breaking thecircuit and stopping the motor. Half a revolution of the worm-wheelraises and the next half of the revolution lowers the gate-arms. As thegate-arms are balanced by the weight 50, the power required to operatethe gate is not excessive.

The particular location in respect to each other of the motor and thegate-operating mechanism, supported as they are in line with each otherfrom a single bed-plate, effects a greater economy of room, simplifiesthe connecting mechanism, and is accompanied by a correspondingreduction in expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent l. The combination, with a railroad-track and arailroad-gate, of a bed-plate, gear mechanism for operating the gatesecured to one side of the bed-plate, an' electromotor for actuating thegear mechanism secured to the other side of the bed-plate in line withthe gear mechanism, an inclosing post within which the bed-plate issuspended, and suitable electrical connections whereby on the passage ofa train the motor is caused to 0perate the gate, as described.

,2. The combination, with a railroad-track and a railroad-gate, of apost, a bed-plate supported by brackets within the post, gear mechanismfor operating the gate secured to one side of the bed-plate, anelectromotor for actuating the gear mechanism secured to the other sideof the bed-plate in line with the gear mechanism, circuit breakerssecured to said bed-plate and operated by the motor, circuit-closersoperated by the passing train to close and open the gate automatically,and suitable electrical connections, as described.

3. The combination, with the inclosing-case 7 and the gate-arm 20, ofthe bed-plate 37, the supportingbracket 38, the motor 36, suspended fromthe bed plate, the shaft of 'the motor and its pinion 35, and mechanismintermediate between the pinion 35 and the gate-arm, said mechanismbeing secured to the bed-plate vertically in line above the motor,whereby when the motor is operated the gate is actuated, as described.

4. The combination, with the electric motor 30 and mechanism forrotating the shaft 26, of the pins 30 and 31, the spring-arms 39 and 40,the contact-posts 42 and 43, connections with the circuit and theswitches, and the crank 24, connecting-rod 25, and crank 23, secured tothe shaft 20 of the gate, as described.

5. The combination, with a gate having connections by which other gatesare operated, of an electromotor connected by mechanism, substantiallyas described, with the the gates on both sides of the track on the 10approach of a train and openthe same after the train has passed thegates automatically,

as described.

\VILLIAM D. SHELDON.

Witnesses:

M. F. BLIGH, J. A. MILLER, J r.

